GUNNERS BEGIN WITH A WIN AT PALACE

Arsenal began their 2022-23 season with a confidence boosting win at Crystal Palace.

Gooners all around the world would be buzzing after the 2-0 win at Selhurst Park, a venue that saw Arsenal crumbled to a 3-0 defeat in April which contributed to their failure in securing a Champions League spot.

Gabreil Jesus, Oleg Zinchenko and William Saliba made their competitive debuts for Mikel Arteta’s side and the trio contributed significantly towards the win.

Jesus was a nuisance to the Palace defence throughout the match and would have registered an assist if Gabriel Martinelli had put a chance created by him into the back of the net early in the match.

However it was Zinchenko instead who assisted Martinelli in opening the score after his header from a corner was headed home by the Brazilian from close range in the 20th minute.

Saliba performed solidly in defence, reading the game astutely and made timely tackles that belied his 21 years of age. More significanty it was a clean game for him as he did not conceded a single foul.

Patrick Vieira’s boys managed to get into the game and created a number of chances that could have gone in and put his former side under more pressure.

However Aaron Ramsdale was in his element by denying Odsonne Édouard in the first half and later in the second, Eberechi Eze when both seemed destined to score for Palace.

The Gunners put the result beyond with five minutes remaining after a fine run by Bukayo Saka on the right which ended with him shooting the ball across the goal and the unfortunate Marc Guéhi headed the ball past his goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita in his attempt to stop it.

It was only the first match of the season but it is good to start it off with a win. If Arteta’s boys can maintain the winning consistency then Gooners will be in for a big ride this season.

TIME TO BE OPTIMISTIC

Tomorrow morning in Malaysia (Friday night in the UK) the wait for the new English Premier League season will be over as Arsenal travel to South London to take on Crystal Palace.

The Gunners have been having a good pre-season, winning all five official matches including a 4-0 win over Chelsea and trashing Sevilla 6-0 in the Emirates Cup.

New signing Gabriel Jesus has been on fire since switching from the light blue of Manchester to the red and white of North London, scoring seven times in the process including a hat-trick against Sevilla.

The results have put many Gooners in a buoyant mood, many would be thinking that this season could see their team going back into challenging for the league title or the very least qualifying forthe Champions’ League.

History wise it could be difficult for Mikel Arteta’s side as they have not done well at Selhusrt Park in recent seasons. Last season they was at the wrong end of a 3-0 result which contributed to their failure in qualifying for the Champions’ League.

One also could not help but to think about the Friday opening fixture to last season when Arsenal travelled to West London against newly promoted side, Brentford which they lost 2-0 and triggering the worst start to the season for The Gunners for quite some time.

However, one could say recent acquisitions by Arteta seemed to have gelled well in their matches so far including Oleg Zinchenko who rejoined his City team-mate, Jesus in North London.

Another positive point for Arsenal is the presence of William Saliba who after a number of loan spells in the French league will finally make his competitive debut for The Gunners.

With Tomiyasu is expected not to be available for the match, it could be Ben White in the right-back spot with Saliba partnering Gabriel Magalháes in the middle and Zinchenko at left-back.

With the departure of Bernd Leno to Fulham, Aaron Ramsdale will be seen as the automatic choice for Arteta as the goalkeeper. Jesus will be the focal point of attack and will be supported by Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard.

Arteta will then have to choose beyween Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey to hold the fort in front of the defence while helping to link between defence and attack in the fastest way possible.

A winning start to the season would be most welcomed but coming away with a point from Selhurst Park on the opening day of the season against a Patrick Vieira side will be acceptable too.

THE ONLY WAY NOW IS UP FOR GUNNERS

It is not a good time to be a Gooner right now that is if you cannot take the trolls from rival fans and pundits alike. Having suffered three defeat in a row it is the worst start that I have seen Arsenal made to a season since I began supporting them in 1979.

When the fixtures were drawn and we were away to Brentford immediately the gut told me that it would not be easy as the Bees were making their first ever Premier League appearance in their history and they are a settled side.

As luck would have it, we missed a number of key players that could have made the outcome a bit different and perhaps on another day a better luck decision wise regarding the home side second goal when Bernd Leno was prevented from coming for the long ball into the box.

Against Chelsea and Manchester City we were not expecting much as the gap in quality and experience were there to be seen by all. Our cause was not helped by Granit Xhaka's bizarre decision to make a two footed open stud lunge against City when it was obvious it was unnecessary at all.

A glimpse of joy came in the 6-0 demolition of West Bromwich Albion in the Carabao Cup.

The international break should provide ample time for Mikel Arteta to come up with a way up from the bottom of the table and the match against Norwich City at home tonight is seen as very crucial for Arsenal to get their season back on track.

The Canaries are sitting just a place above us with the goal they scored against Leicester City before the break being the difference as both sides were still without a win but Arsenal are yet to score in the league this season.

I am hoping someone will break the duck tonight, I do not care who as long as it is an Arsenal goal and a few more coming Arsenal's way afterwards will bring an upmost joy to this Gooner watching in Kuala Terengganu.

But given the circumstances, 1-0 to the Arsenal all season will be just as good to me.

WE HUFF, WE PUFF, TORREIRA SCORES FOR US

After two good performances in their previous two outings against Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester United, Arsenal seemed to have lost their edge as they were pushed to the limit by Huddersfield Town tonight.

The visitors came with a game plan that was to put pressure on Arsenal from the beginning and it somehow succeeded as The Gunners could not impose themselves on the visitors.

As always, Unai Emery did his tinkering at the interval but still the home side were continuously frustrated as they could not find the inspiration to break down the resolute Huddersfield defence.

That was until seven minutes from time when Matteo Guendouzi's pass found Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang inside the box. Having seen his shot blocked, the Gambian international lifted the ball for Torreira to score in a spectacular fashion.

The win pushed Arsenal unbeaten run to 21 matches in all competition and temporarily to third place of the Premier League table.

GOONERS START LIFE IN EUROPA LEAGUE WITH A WIN

Arsenal staged a fightback during their first Europa League match against Cologne.

It was a delayed start to the Europe second tier continental tournament at the Emirates due to some safety concern. Perhaps that influenced the sluggish that saw the Germans took the lead after ten minutes through Jhon Cordoba.

Arsene Wenger changed things around in the second half with Bosnian Sead Kolasinac coming on for  Rob Holding.

The change paid off handsomely when Kolasinac levelled things up in the 50th minute. Seventeen minutes later, Alexis Sanchez opened his Europe goal account with a sublime finish.

Hector Bellerin wrapped things up with eight minutes to go to make the final score 3-1 to the home side.

I gave the match a miss again though retrospectively I should have stayed up to watch the match.

Hopefully there will be more to come on the continental stage for The Gunners this season.

COYG!

ONE NIL TO THE ARSENAL

Playing against relegation threatened sides are not easy.

Norwich City came to Arsenal tonight looking to emulate what another relegation candidate did last week, taking a point from their encounter with The Gunners.

At first, it seemed like The Canaries were succeeding when they managed to hold Arsenal to a goalless first half and created the better chances that forced Petr Cech to be alert all the time.

Arsenal striker, Olivier Giroud seemed determined to be the creator than the scorer of goals tonight when almost every pass directed to him was put into the path of his team-mates, including the winning goal by Danny Welbeck.

Giroud headed the ball into the path of Welbeck who just came on to replace Alex Iwobi and the striker effort was enough to beat John Ruddy.

We could have scored on a number of occasions after that but Arsenal players could not find the finishing touch to their moves.

As the score remained 1-0 there was fear as we went into the last ten minutes that we would let the lead slipped from our grasps once again, just like what happened against Crystal Palace.

Thankfully, the match stayed true to the chant of 'One Nil to the Arsenal' and the three points collected made St Totteringham Day still a distant possiblity.

During the match both pro-Wenger and anti-Wenger camps made their feelings clear, showing a divided stands of Gooners on whether the most successful Arsenal manager of all time should stay or leave.

It hurt seeing signs saying "Wenger - 12 years of excuses; Ranieri - 9 months Premier League Champions" but at the same time glad to see "Wenger still know more than you".

Personally, I feel that the Frenchman still has what it takes to be competitive in the Premier League but not in the long run. He has done enough for the club and perhaps should consider calling it a day, perhaps after delivering to us Gooners another Premier League title and also the Champions League trophy.

That wouldn't be asking too much of the old man, right?


#COYG

GOOD POINT AT SUNDERLAND

Many would have thought it was going to be an easy match against Sunderland especially they are a candidate for the drop from the Premier League.

However, in the English Premier League nothing is clear cut and as easy as that.

Going to an opponent who were willing to fight throughout the ninety minutes for their survival in the top flight was not easy. It was never easy.

Sunderland away was never easy and with their survival in the Premier League is at stake, the task for Arsene Wenger's men just got tougher.

Three points against WBA at home was a formality, with The Baggies could make the safety in the next few matches. Sunderland were different. They were in the bottom three and a win would lift them nearer to safety.

In the end, they got a draw which was good enough to get them out of the relegation zone on goal difference against Norwich.

Many were saying that some of the Arsenal players were not giving their all especially the internationals.

As much as you hate to admit it, these players already have their eyes on the EURO 2016 finals squads with their respective nations.

Picking up an injury at this juncture would put their place in the squad in jeopardy.

Thus the way they pulling out of challenges was understandable though somewhat disappointing for the paying fans who expect their players to give their all in every match.

So for me, a point from Sunderland managed by Sam Allardyce who was fighting relegation is most welcomed rather than suffering defeat there.